HBI Vanier Scholars blaze new paths in children’s health research at UCalgary

Two PhD candidates recognized for their innovative studies into treating post-concussion symptoms and improving focus in kids with ADHD. Read more about Caroline and Bevin here.

Hopewell MIND Prize 2025 Applications Open! $1-million to bold, high-impact research

The Hopewell M.I.N.D. Prize will be awarded to a team consisting of a Post-Doctoral Fellow and a full HBI member (Principal Investigator) who collectively possesses a demonstrably strong, career-level appropriate, track record/level of expertise in the area of study. International post-docs are welcome to apply paired with an HBI member.

Full details of the application process can be found here, along with a list of HBI full members. A virtual workshop will be held on January 15, 2025 with Letters of Intent due March 1, 2025. Learn more!

In this week's edition of BrainWorks:

• News: Cilia and brain development; Physician wellness
• Awards: Killam awards; Top 40 Under 40
• Recent Publications: Charles Bonnet syndrome; Cerebral palsy

Study uncovers critical role cilia play in brain development and communication

Discovered over 100 years ago, cilia are everywhere in our body – studied in kidney disease, as well as heart and bone defects. Scientists are just beginning to appreciate the significance of cilia in the brain. Drs. Jiami Guo and Lizheng Wang published their work in Nature Neuroscience. Read more here.

Physician wellness initiative expands nationally

The Well Doc Initiative uses evidence-based strategies to help ensure that physicians, physician groups and health care system leaders have embedded policies, practices, and programs in their health care systems that proactively enhance the wellness of physicians. CMA, MD Financial Management, Scotiabank commit $5M to support national expansion of The Well Doc Initiative. Read the full story here.

2024 Killam Awards recognize outstanding HBI researchers

These awards give recognition to UCalgary researchers for excellence in research and mentorship given across diverse disciplines. Numerous HBI members and trainees were recipients of this year's awards. View the full list of awardees here.

Deciphering gut bacteria and glymphatics in neurodegeneration

Drs. Minh Dang Nyugen, Keith Sharkey, and Grant Gordon collaborate with international researchers to connect microbiome work to glymphatics through open science team grants presented by Brain Canada and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Read the full release here.

The Mathison Centre is the mental health arm of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. All news previously included in the Mathison newsletter, will now be included in Brainworks, with a monthly feature on news and updates specific to the Mathison. To learn more about the Mathison, you can check out their website here, or follow them on Instagram and X (Twitter).

Dr. Mary Jansen Dunbar and Dr. Jennifer Jackson received recognition as 2024 Avenue Top 40 Under 40. Check out their profiles and other recipients here.

Dr. Katie Birnie received the Emerging Leader Award from Children's Healthcare Canada. Congratulations Dr. Birnie! 

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) describes the presence of hallucinations in patients with poor or deteriorating vision. Physicians assessing patients following mTBI should be aware of CBS and should take persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) into consideration when recommending treatments for CBS. Read the full study here, published in Cureus (Springer Nature).

The study, published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology aimed to compare, in term-born children with cerebral palsy (CP), the characteristics of those who exhibit detectable risk factors for CP at birth with those who do not. Read the full study here.